Both chemical tankers from Gulf collision anchored near Galveston

HOUSTON (ICIS)--Two chemical tankers that collided in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week are now anchored near Galveston, the US Coast Guard said on Thursday.

The Chem Sea, a 385-foot (117 metre) tanker, and the 557-foot (169 metre) Bow Kiso collided about 70 miles south of Galveston early on Wednesday. The Bow Kiso sustained minor internal damage, and both vessels are now at Bolivar Roads Channel, said Coast Guard petty officer 2nd class Stephen Lehmann.

“It doesn’t seem to have affected them mechanically,” Lehmann said. “They were able to get in pretty quickly.”

The Bow Kiso suffered a fuel leak in the engine room, but the crew was able to repair the leak and pump the fuel into an auxiliary tank, the Coast Guard said.

Lehmann said the Chem Sea was carrying isotrideconal and 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH). The Bow Kiso contained phenol, benzene, acetone and pygas. Lehmann said he did not know how much of each chemical the ships were carrying.

Lehman said he did not have any information on why the ships collided. The Coast Guard is investigating, Lehmann said.